Chapter 7

BPOV

I ran away from Alice before she could recover, ignoring Jasper as he ran past me towards his wife, with Carlisle and Esme close behind him. Esme shot me a confused look as she passed, but her concern for Alice was more powerful than her feelings towards me and she hurried to catch up with her husband.

I darted noiselessly down the staircase, trying to figure out the best way to get out of the house. My eyes fixed on the tasteful wooden door that I had walked through when I first entered the house and I tried to go even faster. How long would I have before they came after me? A minute? A few seconds? I needed to be gone by then.

I skidded to a halt just inches from the door when I saw Edward waiting there, his gold eyes confused.

"Bella?" he said slowly. "Are you alright?"

I hesitated, casting another glance behind me at where the other Cullens were gathered around Alice. I thought once more of the picture on Carlisle's wall and shuddered.

"I-I need to go," I said hurriedly, trying to move past Edward to the open door.

Edward frowned and caught me effortlessly by the arm, holding me back.

"Why?" he asked, concern mixing with hurt in his tone. "What happened? Did Alice-?"

"No," I said quickly, trying to move out of his strong grip. "No, Alice was fine. I just… I need to go. I'm sorry."

Edward's grip loosened on my arm but he still refused to let me out of the door. His gold eyes studied my face for a moment, their expression darkening.

"You're not coming back, are you?" he whispered.

I shook my head and broke away from his grip, my feet already carrying me into the forest around the Cullen house. I heard Edward call my name but I ignored him like I had ignored Jasper. Some part of me remembered that my car was still at the Cullen's house. I mentally shrugged and pushed the thought away. I could always get a new car. Maybe I would get a Mercedes this time…

I sensed rather than heard someone following me and quickly made a beeline for the river that flowed nearby. Water was usually very good at erasing one's scent.

A hand reached out from the trees to my left and fastened around my hair. I bit back a scream as the hand dragged me back into the trees while another hand fastened itself around my waist. My nostrils flared when I caught my attacker's scent. It wasn't one of the Volturi, but it wasn't one of the Cullens either. So why was the scent familiar to me?

"Hello, child," a silky voice whispered cheerfully in my ear. "My, it has been awhile. I assume you are enjoying your life so far?"

I twisted in his grip, trying to get away, but his grip stayed strong. The voice chuckled.

"Now child," he reprimanded wickedly. "That is no way to treat an old friend, now is it?"

"Let me go," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Who are you?"

The vampire released his grip on my hair and spun me around to face him, his other hand still tight on my waist. I caught my breath and tried desperately to get away. The man sneered at me, his red eyes glowing with satisfaction.

It was the vampire who had changed me.

"I know we never got to properly introduce ourselves," he continued lazily. "Your little friend back there rudely interrupted us before we could have a chance to chat. You may call me Robert, if you like; although I hope that you do not use those horrible nicknames that children of this generation come up with. I do detest the name Bob."

I trembled slightly and tried once again to pull away, but Robert's grip on my waist stayed tight.

"You know, this is the part of the conversation where you introduce yourself, Miss Bella," he pointed out sternly. "Although, I suppose the effort would be wasted since I already know exactly who you are."

I stopped struggling and glanced at him warily.

"You do?" I asked cautiously. Great, now I had a vampire stalker.

Robert nodded, his mouth twisting in a malicious grin.

"Of course," he said silkily. "How else do you think dear Aro always finds you?"

I felt my mouth fall open and I stared at him.

"You told him where I was?" I gasped. "How?"

Robert shrugged.

"I have the gift of telepathy," he explained absently. "I merely sent him telepathic messages whenever I found you. I must say, he's paid me handsomely for it."

I twisted again and felt his grip break. I backed away from him slowly, too afraid to run. If he had told Aro that I was here, would the Cullens…?

"Don't worry, I haven't told him that you are here yet," he said easily, guessing my thoughts. "It has been very frustrating, you know, to watch you walk around in your new life, knowing that I would have killed you all of those years ago if not for some twist of fate. If it wasn't for Aro's orders… However, he doesn't have to know that I killed you… the Cullens would make fine scapegoats…. Or even those charming wolves you adore so much… Yes, I'm sure that that would work."

I growled at him, feeling the fury build up inside of me. It was one thing for him to screw up my life, but there was no way that I was going to let him do the same to Edward and his family; or Jake and Seth, for that matter.

Robert smirked as I shifted into a defensive crouch, his fangs glittering in the dim light.

"I rather hoped that you would fight," he purred.

Then he lunged.

EPOV

I ran after Bella, my eyes narrowing as I tried to follow her scent through the trees. I heard Emmett's heavy footsteps behind me as he followed me closely, his steps shadowed by Jasper's soundless sprint. I still didn't know exactly why they were following me, although judging from their thoughts it had something to do with Alice's vision. I wasn't sure if I should feel comforted by that or scared.

Jasper paused briefly beside the river, his nostrils flaring as he caught another scent. He motioned towards Emmett and darted away on another path, leaving me to follow Bella.

I skidded to a stop when I heard voices up ahead, my ears catching Bella's growl at the same moment that I heard another man's thoughts.

This should be easy…

I felt my lips curl in a snarl as I saw him lunge at Bella, my snarl dying in my throat when he caught her on the shoulder. Bella screamed and turned on him, her hands scratching at his exposed neck as he bit into her shoulder.

I growled and ran towards them, my surroundings blurring around me as I pushed myself forward. I broke through the trees around them and tackled the vampire, shoving him roughly away from Bella.

The man landed neatly on his feet and growled at me, exposing his teeth. I recognized him as the vampire who had supposedly killed Bella years ago and snarled back at him.

The vampire smirked and moved forward, his narrowed eyes focusing on me.

"You again," he murmured. "Maybe I'll actually get to kill you now."

Bella hissed at him and shifted into a crouch beside me, a crescent-shaped scar already marring her shoulder. I would tear the vampire apart for wounding her.

The vampire smirked and moved forward, only to stiffen as Emmett's furious roar echoed throughout the forest. My brothers lunged at the vampire, knocking him onto the ground. I leapt away from Bella's side with a growl and joined them as they took the vampire apart. I heard Bella take a step back and looked up quickly. There was no way that I was going to let her leave now.

Bella's eyes met mine and she winced, her hand flying to the bite on her shoulder. I frowned and darted away from the vampire as Jasper and Emmett started to burn him. I gathered Bella effortlessly into my arms and ran back towards the house. She made a small noise of protest but gave up and stayed still until we came in sight of the house. She whimpered slightly and struggled weakly when Alice opened the door, her eyes wide.

Alice frowned and glanced at me, more confused than ever.

"Bella," I said quietly, waiting until she met my gaze before continuing. "You need to tell us what's wrong."

Bella hesitated, her eyes flickering to where Rose, Esme, and Carlisle stood, their expressions ranging from concern to suspicion. She stiffened when Jasper and Emmett ran past us into the house, her gaze finally meeting mine.

She nodded.

I gently laid her down onto one of the white couches in our living room and took a seat beside her. I raised my eyebrows when Alice sat on her other side but made no comment.

I looked steadily at Bella and waited until the rest of my family was seated before saying one word.

"Explain."

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight! All of the credit belongs to Stephanie Meyer! Thanks to all of the people who have been so patient with me!